Tratics

Tratics Tratics is a rail logistics software company with a mission to bring rail logistics into the 21st ce.

Happy Monday, freight folks. đźš‚One thing worth checking this week: when did you last analyze your rail rates beyond just ...
04/27/2026

Happy Monday, freight folks. đźš‚

One thing worth checking this week: when did you last analyze your rail rates beyond just the lane in front of you?

Looking at a single move in isolation can be misleading. The real insight comes from context:

How does this lane compare to similar lanes (same distance, same region)?
How does this same lane price for other products (different STCCs)?
Are you paying a premium relative to comparable movements in the market?

Rail pricing isn’t static. Carriers adjust based on commodity, density, and network dynamics. A rate that looks reasonable on its own may be out of line when viewed against adjacent lanes or comparable products.

If your team is digging into this, we’re happy to help.

www.tratics.com

đź“ŚTariff rates are publicly published rates set by rail carriers, covering broad sets of routes and commodities (STCCs). ...
04/15/2026

đź“ŚTariff rates are publicly published rates set by rail carriers, covering broad sets of routes and commodities (STCCs). They apply universally to any shipper and are typically compiled into large documents spanning a carrier's entire network.

Contract rates are negotiated directly between a shipper and carrier, tailored to specific needs. They may include discounts and special terms (e.g., volume commitments), with a shipper's leverage depending on factors like size, volume, competition, and alternative sourcing options.
In short: tariff rates cast a wide net across lanes and shippers; contract rates are customer-specific and can offer better pricing in exchange for shipper commitments.

Happy Easter from Tratics!Wishing our clients, partners, and community a peaceful and joyful Easter.
04/05/2026

Happy Easter from Tratics!

Wishing our clients, partners, and community a peaceful and joyful Easter.

Rail freight pricing should not feel like detective work.Carrier websites. Old quotes. Spreadsheets full of formulas lea...
03/25/2026

Rail freight pricing should not feel like detective work.

Carrier websites. Old quotes. Spreadsheets full of formulas leading to other spreadsheets. Fuel surcharges. Accessorials. Too much time spent just trying to get to one usable number.

Tratics brings it all together in one place with real-time delivered rail pricing across your carriers, contracts, and tariffs.

Compare rates faster, see the full landed cost, and make decisions with confidence.

See how Tratics works: https://www.tratics.com/

đź“Ś Railroads in Virginia move so much freight that it would take about 6.5 million trucks to replace them, showing how es...
03/23/2026

đź“Ś Railroads in Virginia move so much freight that it would take about 6.5 million trucks to replace them, showing how essential rail is for efficiency, reducing congestion, and supporting the economy.

With over 3,000 miles of track operated by 12 railroads, the network connects ports, manufacturers, and distribution centers across the U.S. The industry employs 2,476 workers and supports 16,900 retirees, contributing around $416 million in benefits annually.

Virginia’s railroads originated 26.9 million tons of freight and handled 62.5 million tons inbound, including coal, intermodal shipments, chemicals, and industrial materials.

By taking millions of trucks off the road, rail helps lower emissions, reduce traffic, and strengthen Virginia’s role as a key hub for logistics, manufacturing, and energy.

🍀 Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Wishing you a great day today!
03/17/2026

🍀 Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Wishing you a great day today!

A STCC (spelled: stick) Code is the product or commodity code of the product being moved in a railcar. STCC stands for S...
03/12/2026

A STCC (spelled: stick) Code is the product or commodity code of the product being moved in a railcar. STCC stands for Standard Transportation Commodity Code. It is the numerical classification used in rail to identify the exact type of commodity being transported. Each code represents a specific product or product group, helping rail carriers and shippers standardize freight descriptions. STCC codes are required info for rate calculations, shipping documentation, and handling requirements.

Happy International Women's Day!At Tratics, we're committed to bringing rail logistics into the 21st century and that me...
03/08/2026

Happy International Women's Day!
At Tratics, we're committed to bringing rail logistics into the 21st century and that means celebrating and supporting the brilliant women driving innovation in logistics, supply chain, and technology.

Here's to making the industry more inclusive, one shipment at a time. đź’Ş

📌 Can you negotiate freight rail rates? Yes, and here’s how you can do it for one specific lane this week.To get a rail ...
03/06/2026

📌 Can you negotiate freight rail rates? Yes, and here’s how you can do it for one specific lane this week.

To get a rail pricing manager to say "yes" to a rate on a specific lane, stop thinking like a buyer and start thinking like an asset manager.

Broad network deals require long period of negotiations and much back and forth. But single-lane negotiations are won on the details, and remember, this number is set as the baseline that will be increased incrementally going forward.

When negotiating one single lane, give the railroad pricing manager these 5 elements:

đź“Ś Volume Consistency
Give them the weekly or monthly number. Railroads crave predictability; if they can plan their crews and power around your freight, they’ll reward the stability.

đź“Ś The "Shared Stake" Reality
In a tight market, capacity is a zero-sum game. Frame the deal as a partnership: "We both win if this moves, we both lose if the equipment sits." Showing you're committed to fast turns makes you a low-risk partner.

đź“Ś The "Plan B" Leverage
Know your alternatives and let them know you know. Whether it’s a competing carrier, a transload-to-truck move, or a different sourcing origin altogether, defining the "walk-away" point sets a firm floor for the negotiation.

đź“Ś The "Pilot Move" Safety Net
Is it a new or uncertain move? Pitch it as a short-term test. This lowers the railroad's risk profile, allowing both sides to audit the service levels before locking in a long-term contract.

đź“Ś A Hard Target Rate
Stop the guessing games. Provide the exact rate that secures the business. When you give a pricing manager the goalposts, you cut out the "back-and-forth" and get to a decision faster. Go a bit lower than you expect because even if your number works, they will go slightly higher.

We're halfway through the week. It's hump day! 🙂 Half your shipping decisions are already made, but there's still time t...
03/04/2026

We're halfway through the week. It's hump day! 🙂 Half your shipping decisions are already made, but there's still time to optimize the rest.

With real-time delivered rail pricing and full visibility across tariffs, contracts, and carriers, you can make smarter decisions before your competitors even ask for a quote.

If you could instantly compare live rail rates across all your lanes, what would you improve first?

Drop your answer below! 👇

🇺🇸Presidents’ Day began as a celebration of George Washington’s birthday, a tribute to leadership, vision, and enduring ...
02/16/2026

🇺🇸Presidents’ Day began as a celebration of George Washington’s birthday, a tribute to leadership, vision, and enduring impact.

Today, we recognize how those same qualities continue to shape industries, innovation, and progress.

📌Happy Presidents’ Day from Tratics.

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